Folding article of furniture

ABSTRACT

An interlocking corner joint comprising a first and a second interlocking connector strip secured to an edge of a respective one of two members hinged together to form a joint. The first and second connectors are provided with means for rigidly interlocking each other when placed in abutting relationship. The members are hinged to provide arcuate displacement of the first and second connectors about a fulcrum located outside the center axis of the corner joint.

ilnited totes Patent [191 ,lohl et a1.

[11] 3,65,051 Feb. 11, 11975 FOLDING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE [75]Inventors: Anton .llohl; Winiried P. H. Malich, both of Montreal,Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: Louis Ethan Ltd., Montreal,

Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 348,690

52/71 [51] Int. Cl A471) 3/00 [58] Field of Search 108/131, 132, 129;5/314,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 317,097 5/1885 Danner108/132 581,589 4/1897 Houghton 108/132 1,133,109 3/1915 Derbyshire108/132 gg f4 1,480,945 1/1924 Moseley 16/128 R 2,605,617 8/1952Replogle.,.. 312/258 X 2,750,991 6/1956 Lay 297/35 3,093,095 6/1963 Howe108/131 3,259,080 7/1966 Laroche 108/131 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS161,012 6/1933 Switzerland 108/131 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel[57] ABSTRACT An interlocking corner joint comprising a first and asecond interlocking connector strip secured to an edge of a respectiveone of two members hinged together to form a joint. The first and secondconnectors are provided with means for rigidly interlocking each otherwhen placed in abutting relationship. The members are hinged to providearcuate displacement of the first and second connectors about a fulcrumlocated outside the center axis of the corner joint.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures fig t r PATENTEU FEB 1 1 I975 SHEET 20F 2 rFOLDING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to an interlocking corner jointand more particularly, but not exclusively, for use with furniture.

2. Description of Prior Art Heretofore, furniture such as desks, tablesor the like, ha e qnstmc sd e he in a a rassemb sd or knock-down form.In the latter case, a person must assemble the various components of thefurniture piece with conventional tools and hardware. Also, furniture ofthe folding type is in most instances made of light weight materials forease of handling and assembly, i.e. folding tables, etc., and do notprovide a rigid piece of furniture. Further, because the components ofknockdown furniture are detached from each other, they are subject todisplacement in their packaged container and sometimes damage theirfinished surfaces during transit. Still further, a component of such apiece of furniture can be easily lost during handling and often requiresdetailed instructions for assembly.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is a feature of the present invention to providean interlocking corner joint for interlocking edges of adjoining membersof a piece of furniture.

It is a further feature to provide fastening means which will permitfolding furniture to be erected quickly without tools.

A still further feature is to provide folding furniture which whenknocked down can be packaged and stored economically.

According to these features, from a broad aspect, the present inventionprovides an interlocking corner joint for an article of furniturecomprising a first and a second interlocking connector strip secured toan edge of a respective one of two members hinged together to form ajoint. The connectors consist of elongated striplike edge connectorssecured respectively to an angulated joint edge of the members andextending beyond the outer planar surface of its associated member toprovide a protective edge along the interconnected outer edges of themembers. The members are hinged to provide arcuate displacement of thefirst and second connectors about a fulcrum located outside the centeraxis of the corner joint whereby the members can be collapsed one on topof the other and in predetermined spaced apart relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A Preferred embodiment of the presentinvention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an article of furniture constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the article of furniture in its folded state;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented sectional view of a portion of the article offurniture;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views of further configurations ofthe edge connector;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented sectional side view illustrating the positioningof the fastening pin and locking disc positioned in the furniture; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmented sectional top view of the illustration of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings andmore particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown generally at 10 anarticle of furniture constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Hereinshown, the article is a desk or table formed of flatrectangular panels comprising a top panel 11, two side panels 12 and aninterconnecting member hereinshown as a front panel 13. The side panels12 support the top panel 11 at the desired height from the floor and maybe provided with legs 14 to protect the lower edge of the side panels 12and these may be adjustableto vary the height of the top panel relativeto the floor.

As can be seen from FIG. l, the front interconnecting panel 13 issecured to the top panel 11 by standard type butt hinges 15 whereby thefront panel- 13 can be folded over the lower surface 16 of the top panel11. The side panels 12 are each secured adjacent an end edge of the toppanel .11 by a specially designed off-set hinges 17. Each off-set hinge17 is formed of a connecting leaf plate 18 pivotally secured by means ofpivot pin 19 to a right angle leaf plate 20. The leaf plate 20 has aspacer plate section 21 and a transverse connecting leaf plate 22. Thehinges 17 are embedded in their respective panels with the pivot pin 19located inside the side panels 12.

The abutting end edges of the top and side panels 11 and 12 have a flatsurface which is angulated inwardly. An elongated interlocking cornerjoint 29 is formed by two elongated strip-like, interlocking connectors30 and 31 which are secured, respectively, to an abutting end edge ofthe top panel 11 and each side panels 12. Both edge connectors 30 and 31may be formed of hardwood, plastic or a suitable light metal. The maleedge connector 30 is provided with a ridge portion 32 having a flatupper surface 33, a right angle edge 34 and an outwardly tapered edge35. A cavity 36, of rectangular cross-section, is provided in the femaleconnector 31 whereby to receive the ridge portion 32 of the maleconnector 30 in close contact therein whereby the top panel 11 may beinterlocked with the side panels 12 to provide a rigid structure. Theridge portion 32 and the cavity 36 may extend entirely along the lengthof the connector strips 30 and 31 or else may be provided at spacedapart intervals and in aligned relationship.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the side panel 12 is pivoted about afulcrum provided by a pivot pin 19 and located outside the center axis28 of the joint 29}. Thus, when the joint is separated, the tapered edge35, located on the outward side of the joint, will permit arcuatedisplacement of the ridge portion 32 in and out of the cavity 36.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the: outward edge 27 of the connectors 30and 31 extend above the outer planar surface 26 and 25 of the top andside panels, respectively. This extension protects the veneer layer (notshown) in the thin corners 24 of the panels 11 and side walls 63. Thisconfiguration provides a balance design to prevent warping or twistingof the strips as they are extruded. A wedge 64 is also extruded andsecured to one of the connector strips, to form the male connector 30.The configuration of the wedge 64 will permit it to fit tightly betweenthe cavities 62 when both strip connectors 30 and 31 are in facialContact, thus providing an interlock between the strips.

FIG. 4b shows a still further embodiment of a corner joint comprisingtwo strip edge connectors 70. Hereinshown, each connector 70 is providedin one of its side surfaces with a ridge portion 71 and a cavity portion72, located side-by-side. To form an interconnection between two strips,one of the strips has its ridge and cavity located in reverseconfiguration whereby when two interconnecting strips are brought infacial contact, the ridge portion 71 of one connector is received in thecavity portion 72 of the opposite connector. The ridge portion 71 isprovided with a bevelled edge 73 to permit in and out arcuate movementbetween the interlocking ridge and cavity in both surfaces of theconnectors 70. The outermost corner 74 of each connector 70 is roundedto provide a smooth edge. The other side surface 75 of each connector isflat to secure against the edge of the top and side panels, 11 and 12,to form the interlocking joint 29.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spacer plate section 21 is of sufficientwidth to permit the front panel 13 to be folded thereunder and clear thehinges. Also, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that the side panels 12 arerigidly connected to the front panel 13 by securing means 38 whereby thepanel 13 is held vertically and all other panels locked in position.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6, there is shown one form of securing means38 and herein comprising a known device in the art consisting of anelongated arresting pin 39 and a locking disc 40 constructed of plasticor other suitable material. The pin 39 is provided with a head 41 at oneend thereof and a slotted aperture 42 adjacent the other end or lockingend. The locking disc 40 comprises a circular front plate 43 having aslot 44 in the surface thereof for locking or unlocking the fasteningmeans 38. Integrally formed and extending rearwardly of the plate 43 isan arcuate locking finger portion 44 having a circular outer edgeconcentric with the circumference of the plate 43 to define a shoulderportion 45. The inner edge 46 of the finger 44 is eccentricallydisplaced whereby to pull in the pin 39 as will be described later. Theedge 46 is provided with a plurality of serrations 47 of V-shapecrosssection to retain a wedged projection 48 provided in the forwardend of the pin slot 42 transversely of the slot. The finger 44 isfurther provided with a peripheral slot 48 extending from its forwardnarrow end 49 to a distant position of the finger which is ofprogressively increasing width. Thus, there is formed an interlockfinger portion 50 which is receivable within the pin slot 42 forinterlocking engagement.

For assembly of the article of furniture 10, the panels 11, 12 and 13are positioned as shown in FIG. 1, with the front panel 13 extendingvertically and the corner joints 29 interlocked to solidify the jointsbetween the panels. An arresting pin 39 is positioned within a throughbore 51 in the side panel 12 and enters a further bore hole 53 in theadjacent vertical edge of the front panel 13. The hole 53 extendsdiametrically to a circular bore cavity 52 in the rear surface of thefront panel. The circumference of the cavity 52 is such as to receivethe finger portion 44 of the disc 40 therein with the shoulder portion45 resting on the rear surface of the panel 13 about the cavity 52. Thefront plate 43 has a marking (not shown) indicating the location of thethroat area 54 which is sufficiently wide to receive the pin 39therethrough. The throat area 54 must be in line with the hole 53 topermit entry of the pin 39 within the disc finger portion 44. By turningthe disc clockwise and positioning the pin 39 with its slot extendingvertically, the finger portion 50 will extend through the slot 42 andpull the pin 39 towards the disc causing the side panel 12 to abutagainst the vertical edge of the front panel 13 and rigidly interlockingboth these panels together.

As shown in FIG. 1, the article of furniture can be converted into adesk by providing one or more pairs of spaced apart flanges 54 adaptedto retain a drawer unit, shown by phantom lines 56, under the top panel11. It is within the scope of the present invention to modify the shapeand spacing of the panels or utilize other type of framework.

We claim:

1. An interlocking corner joint for an article of furniture comprising afirst anda second interlocking connector strip secured to an edge of arespective one of two members hinged together to form a joint, saidconnectors being elongated strip-like edge connectors securedrespectively to an angulated joint edge of said members and extendingbeyond the outer planar surface of its associated member to provide aprotective edge along the interconnected outer edges of said members,one of said connectors being provided with an elongated ridge receivablein interlocking relationship in an elongated cavity in said otherconnector, said members being hinged to provide arcuate displacement ofsaid first and second connectors about a fulcrum located outside thecenter axis of said corner joint whereby said members can be collapsedone on top of the other and in predetermined spaced apart relationship.

2. An article of furniture comprising a top member, at least two sidemembers and an interconnecting memher, said interconnecting member beinghinged to said top member and extending between said two side members,hinged means interconnecting each said side members to said top memberadjacent a respective edge thereof, and securing means to interconnectsaid side members and said interconnecting member whereby to rigidlysecure all of said members together, and an interlocking cornerjointhaving a first and a second interlocking connector secured to arespective edge hinged together to form ajoint, said first and secondconnectors being elongated striplike edge connectors securedrespectively to an angulated joint edge of said members and extendingbeyond the outer planar surface of its associated member to provide aprotective edge along the interconnected outer edges of said members,one of said connectors being provided with an elongated ridge receivablein interlocking relationship in an elongated cavity in said otherconnector, saidmembers being hinged to provide arcuate displacement ofsaid first and second connectors about a fulcrum located outside thecenter axis of said corner joint whereby said members can be collapsedone on top of the other and in predetermined spaced apart relationship.

3. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein all of saidmembers are panels, said side panels being of substantially identicalsize and extending downwardly from said top panel at right anglesthereof and parallel to each other, said interconnecting panel extendingdownwardly from said top panel and at right angles to said top and sidepanels.

4i. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hingemeans is an off-set hinge comprising a connecting leaf plate pivotallysecured to a right angle leaf plate, said right angle leaf plate havinga spacer plate section and a transverse connecting leaf plate integraltherewith and secured to said top panel, said spacer plate section andconnecting leaf plate being positioned adjacent a top end edge and saidside panel with said connecting leaf plate connected thereto.

5. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 4, wherein the width ofsaid spacer plate section is at least as large as the thickness of saidinterconnecting panel whereby said interconnecting panel may be foldedonto said top panel and each said side panel folded over said foldedinterconnecting panel.

6. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidconnecting leaf plate is pivotally secured to said right angle leafplate by a pivot pin, said pivot pin being located in a recess withinits associated side panel, said off-set hinge being secured wherein anend edge of said top panel is located adjacent a top end edge of one ofsaid side panels.

=l i K

1. An interlocking corner joint for an article of furniture comprising afirst and a second interlocking connector strip secured to an edge of arespective one of two members hinged together to form a joint, saidconnectors being elongated striplike edge connectors securedrespectively to an angulated joint edge of said members and extendingbeyond the outer planar surface of its associated member to provide aprotective edge along the interconnected outer edges of said members,one of said connectors being provided with an elongated ridge receivablein interlocking relationship in an elongated cavity in said otherconnector, said members being hinged to provide arcuate displacement ofsaid first and second connectors about a fulcrum located outside thecenter axis of said corner joint whereby said members can be collapsedone on top of the other and in predetermined spaced apart relationship.2. An article of furniture comprising a top member, at least two sidemembers and an interconnecting member, said interconnecting member beinghinged to said top member and extending between said two side members,hinged means interconnecting each said side members to said top memberadjacent a respective edge thereof, and securing means to interconnectsaid side members and said interconnecting member whereby to rigidlysecure all of said members together, and an interlocking corner jointhaving a first and a second interlocking connector secured to arespective edge hinged together to form a joint, said first and secondconnectors being elongated striplike edge connectors securedrespectively to an angulated joint edge of said members and extendingbeyond the outer planar surface of its associated member to provide aprotective edge along the interconnected outer edges of said members,one of said connectors being provided with an elongated ridge receivablein interlocking relationship in an elongated cavity in said otherconnector, said members being hinged to provide arcuate displacement ofsaid first and second connectors about a fulcrum located outside thecenter axis of said corner joint whereby said members can be collapsedone on top of the other and in predetermined spaced apart relationship.3. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 2, wherein all of saidmembers are panels, said side panels being of substantially identicalsize and extending downwardly from said top panel at right anglesthereof and parallel to each other, said interconnecting panel extendingdownwardly from said top panel and at right angles to said top and sidepanels.
 4. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidhinge means is an off-set hinge comprising a connecting leaf platepivotally secured to a right angle leaf plate, said right angle leafplate having a spacer plate section and a transverse connecting leafplate integral therewith and secured to said top panel, said spacerplate section and connecting leaf plate being positioned adjacent a topend edge and said side panel with said connecting leaf plate connectedthereto.
 5. An article of furniture as claimed in claim 4, wherein thewidth of said spacer plate section is at least as large as the thicknessof said interconnecting panel whereby said interconnecting panel may befolded onto said top panel and each said side panel folded over saidfolded interconnecting panel.
 6. An article of furniture as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said connecting leaf plate is pivotally secured to saidright angle leaf plate by a pivot pin, said pivot pin being located in arecess within iTs associated side panel, said off-set hinge beingsecured wherein an end edge of said top panel is located adjacent a topend edge of one of said side panels.